Month: May 2026

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Yang Wing-kit and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
 
Question:
 
     In its reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on the 6th of this month, the Government stated that it is studying the construction of a bridge across the Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter to provide a direct linkage between the former Kai Tak runway area and Kwun Tong, thereby improving the external transportation connectivity of the former runway area, and is also exploring the option of adding vehicular lanes on the bridge. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the preliminary timetable and the scope of works for taking forward the aforesaid project;
 
(2) whether the Government will consider reserving space in the aforesaid project to allow the route of the Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Kai Tak to be extended to Kwun Tong, so as to meet long-term transport development needs; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) whether it will take into account the future need to hold major sporting events (e.g. a harbourfront marathon) when designing the aforesaid project, so as to reserve space for staging such events and providing related facilities; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Government has been actively enhancing the overall transport network in Kowloon East, including the Kai Tak Development Area, to better meet the travel needs of the public. Among them, the Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section) was completed in 2025, while the Central Kowloon Bypass (Kowloon Bay Section) will soon be commissioned, significantly strengthening the connectivity of major transport corridors. On the other hand, the Government is pressing ahead with the Smart and Green Mass Transit System project in Kai Tak (Kai Tak Project), which serves as a light and green feeder service to the nearby railway station within the area to strengthen connections among the residential and commercial developments, facilities focused on tourism, culture and recreation, sports and the community within the area, as well as the connection with the railway network. Meanwhile, the Development Bureau (DEVB) is implementing a range of measures, including the construction of elevated walkways, to improve pedestrian accessibility and safety. Furthermore, the Government is studying the construction of a bridge across the Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter (KTTS) to provide a direct linkage between the former Kai Tak runway area and Kwun Tong, thereby enhancing the external transportation connectivity of the former runway area.
 
     In response to the Hon Yang Wing-kit’s question, after consulting the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the reply is set out below:
 
(1) Regarding the proposed bridge across the KTTS, the DEVB originally proposed constructing a pedestrian and cyclist bridge with travellators, of approximately 600 metres in length, to enhance the connectivity and accessibility between the former Kai Tak runway area and the Kwun Tong Promenade in a more environmentally friendly approach. In response to public views, the Government is now exploring the feasibility of incorporating vehicular access into the design. The ongoing study will assess the technical viability of different options, including the alignment of the bridge and the connection points at both ends. The study will also be co-ordinated with the latest planning circumstances of the Kai Tak Development Area and its related transport infrastructure. Upon formulating feasible proposals, we will strive to consult relevant stakeholders and invite their views next year.
 
(2) To ensure the early completion of the Kai Tak Project, the Government will take forward the project based on the current alignment running along the former Kai Tak runway area with the termini connecting to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and the existing MTR Kai Tak Station, with a view to commencing construction works as soon as possible. After finalising the system and design adopted for the basic alignment of the Kai Tak Project, the Government will review the technical and financial feasibility of extending the system to other areas, such as Kwun Tong, in the future, and co-ordinate with the bridge project across the KTTS.
 
(3) The waterfront of the KTTS has been developed into a continuous promenade, parks, and event spaces, complemented by diversified recreational and public facilities. With the progressive implementation of works to connect the promenade and further enhance the waterfront sites, various organisations have successfully held a wide range of activities along the KTTS waterfront in recent years. While the DEVB has been developing high-quality waterfront spaces in Kowloon East for public enjoyment, it has also focused on providing ancillary facilities to transform the waterfront into a vibrant and dynamic public space, offering locals and visitors a more diverse and unique experience, valuing both quality and quantity. To encourage and facilitate diversified activities organised by various organisations so as to introduce new waterfront experiences to the public, the Energizing Kowloon East Office (EKEO) is committed to establishing direct communication channels between event organisers and relevant Government departments, with a view to continuously co-ordinating and streamlining the detailed arrangements of activities. Looking ahead, if events are planned to take place at the proposed bridge across the KTTS (such as a waterfront marathon), the EKEO will also provide assistance to the organisers to ensure smooth implementation and effective co-ordination.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Grace Chan and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
 
Question:
 
     In recent years, “venture philanthropy” and impact investing have gradually emerged as new forms of philanthropic and social investments, and last year’s Policy Address also proposed to encourage family offices to implement projects that benefited the disadvantaged groups. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) apart from tax deductions for charitable donations, whether the Government will consider providing tax concessions for enterprises or family offices that engage in philanthropy in other forms (e.g. venture philanthropy, investment in social enterprises or impact investing); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(2) apart from the “Co-build a Caring Society Funding Scheme” proposed in last year’s Policy Address, of the specific measures put in place by the Government to promote engagement in philanthropy by family offices and assist them in connecting with local charitable institutions; if it has not formulated or has no plan to introduce relevant measures, of the reasons for that; and
 
(3) as there are views that issues on “environmental, social and governance” are gaining increasing attention from the business sector, whether the Government will step up efforts to promote diversified philanthropic models relating to social services, such as impact investing and venture philanthropy, as well as relevant talent training; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     There is no standardised definition in society for “venture philanthropy” and impact investing. According to a relevant research report by the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC) in 2024, impact investing is a form of sustainable investing that integrates social and environmental good alongside investment returns as priorities, with a dual focus on financial return and impact being its key feature. To support the development of different philanthropic models, the Government has all along implemented a range of measures, including providing tax exemption to eligible charitable organisations, facilitating the deployment of charitable capital in Hong Kong through relevant tax arrangements, promoting multi-stakeholder collaboration to strengthen the social support system for vulnerable groups, supporting social entrepreneurs to address social needs through innovative solutions, etc, thereby strengthening social cohesion. Regarding the three parts of the question, in consultation with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Digital Policy Office, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy (HKAWL) under the FSDC, the reply is as follows.
 
(1) Under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) (IRO), charitable institutions are exempt from profits tax (i.e. tax-exempt charitable institutions) subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions in relation to the trade or business carried on by them. To qualify as a tax-exempt charitable institution, the object of the institution must be a solely charitable purpose at law, and the institution must be established for public benefit. To facilitate charitable institutions’ application for tax exemption pursuant to section 88 of the IRO, the IRD launched a standard application form and issued guidelines on the drafting of charitable objects in June 2023, so as to assist institutions in preparing compliant application materials, thereby shortening the time required by the IRD to process the applications. Charitable donations made by a taxpayer (including family offices (FOs), as well as companies which engage in “venture philanthropy” and impact investing) to any tax-exempt charitable institution (i.e. approved charitable donations) are deductible from the assessable profits under profits tax, net assessable income under salaries tax, or total income under personal assessment for a year of assessment, provided that the aggregate amount is not less than $100. The total deduction allowable in any year cannot exceed 35 per cent of the donor’s assessable profits or income.
 
     On the other hand, to facilitate the deployment of charitable capital in Hong Kong by global asset owners, FOs and philanthropists, the Government has introduced relevant tax arrangements, such as allowing exempt charitable organisations to hold up to 25 per cent beneficial interest in eligible single FOs and/or their family-owned investment holding vehicles (FIHVs) under the existing concessionary tax regime for FIHVs. The Government also proposes to broaden the definition of “fund” under the unified tax regime for funds to include endowment funds, so as to facilitate these funds to utilise the tax exemption regime.
 
(2) and (3) The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau issued the Policy Statement on Developing Family Office Businesses in Hong Kong in March 2023, setting out the policy stance and measures on developing a vibrant ecosystem for global FOs and asset owners. Among the measures is the HKAWL established under the FSDC, which provides a platform for collaboration, networking, knowledge sharing and talent development for asset owners, wealth inheritors and the FO sector. The HKAWL launched its flagship philanthropic initiative, Impact Link, in March 2024 and has since organised 17 workshops and seminars for over 700 family participants to encourage them to explore and develop philanthropic initiatives. In June 2025, the HKAWL further introduced the Impact Link Online Portal, a dedicated depository platform for invited family philanthropists to discover scalable impact investing initiatives in Hong Kong and other regions. As of end-March 2026, the portal has been joined by 55 family philanthropists, which altogether nominated 12 non-governmental organisations and charitable projects.
 
     On social welfare, the Government actively fosters tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community. Under the policy guidance of the Government, the business sector offers support in terms of funding, premises, technology and talent, while non-governmental organisations contribute their strengths in frontline insights, service experience and district networks, jointly promoting and implementing service projects, and to work together to build a more diverse, pluralistic and sustainable social support system. Over the past few years, the Government has launched targeted poverty alleviation schemes under the above collaboration model, including the Strive and Rise Programme, the Pilot Programme on Community Living Room and the School-based After School Care Service Scheme. These projects have achieved remarkable results, reflecting an organic integration of “a capable government” and market forces, and have enabled philanthropic resources in society to generate greater benefits. The Government will continue to support vulnerable groups through the tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community, including establishing a platform to encourage FOs involved in philanthropic endeavours to provide resources for implementing projects that benefit disadvantaged groups.
 
     In addition, the Government launched the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund) in 2013, aiming to connect different sectors of the community, including businesses, non-governmental organisations, academics, philanthropies, etc to address poverty and social exclusion as well as foster the well-being and cohesion of society through innovative solutions. The SIE Fund supports the entire life cycle of innovative ventures, from supporting idea incubation, providing seed funding for implementing prototype and start-up projects, to assisting their eventual scale-up. The ultimate goal is to foster the development of the social innovation ecosystem where social entrepreneurs can thrive and potential talents can be unleashed to develop innovative ideas, products and services that can effectively meet social needs. With a total allocation of $1 billion, around $800 million has been earmarked or allocated to take forward various initiatives since its establishment. The SIE Fund has funded 755 projects, benefitting around 600 000 people in need. To optimise the use of resources and operations, the SIE Fund has appointed a consultant to conduct a strategic review on its funding mechanism and operational approach. The review will be completed by end-2026.
 
     Thank you, President.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply today (May 27) announced that the Government will provide a fuel subsidy of HK$0.5 per litre of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for taxis, public light buses and school private light buses starting from 0.00am on May 31 (Sunday). The temporary measure will last for two months until 11.59pm on July 30 (Thursday).

A Government spokesman said that the temporary measure aims to alleviate the operating costs of local passenger transport commercial vehicles which primarily use LPG as fuel (namely taxis, public light buses and school private light buses (commonly known as nanny vans)), and reduce the pressure for fare increases. It is expected that about 16 900 LPG (including LPG-hybrid) taxis, about 3 440 LPG public light buses (including green minibuses and red minibuses), and about 170 LPG school private light buses would benefit from the fuel subsidy.

To provide the LPG subsidy in a simple and direct manner, oil companies will offer a discount of HK$0.5 per litre of LPG at all 66 LPG filling stations across the territory (including 12 dedicated LPG stations) for all LPG (including LPG-hybrid) taxis, public light buses and school private light buses. No registration or application is required. In order to ensure proper use of public funds, the Government has signed agreements with six oil companies (namely Sinopec, ExxonMobil, Shell, PetroChina, Chevron (Caltex), and Feoso), under which responsibilities and terms have been set out on the arrangements of implementing the LPG subsidy. These arrangements include the Government’s reimbursement to designated oil companies for the actual amount of subsidies provided; the requirement for these oil companies to maintain complete and accurate books and records; the requirement to submit reports to the Government every week, as well as the auditing arrangements upon the completion of the subsidy period. The Transport Department (TD) has steered the oil companies in completing the necessary system enhancements and testing to ensure smooth implementation.

The TD will conduct publicity from today onwards, including displaying posters at LPG filling stations and TD licensing offices. Leaflets will be distributed at major taxi stands, public light bus stands and all dedicated LPG stations across the territory to inform frontline drivers of the subsidy details. Details of the LPG subsidy will also be published on the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk), the HKeMobility mobile app, and notifications issued by the TD to the relevant trades.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Cho-kwong and a reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):

Question:   
President,      
     To enable sustained learning of Chinese culture among the public, the CCPO has set up a dedicated website and social media platforms to pool together online resources relating to Chinese culture from various museums, along with accessible short videos covering Chinese literature, history, philosophy, music, art, folklore and intangible cultural heritage, etc. The videos introduced, for example, Tang poetry, classical Chinese texts and ancient thinkers in an “edutainment” format with a view to transforming traditional cultural content into learning resources that are easier for the public to comprehend and absorb. To date, the short videos have nearly 800 000 cumulative views, providing a sustained learning resource for both the public and schools. To deepen public understanding of the Lingnan culture, the CCPO conducts on-campus lectures and workshops using resources from local and Guangzhou museums, and integrates the Lingnan music activities into school music lessons. Additionally, the “Chinese Culture in Hong Kong Gardens” series guides the public through the Lingnan Garden within Lai Chi Kok Park, offering an immersive experience of Qing-era Lingnan architecture and landscape design.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following is a question by the Hon Ray Wong and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
 
Question:
 
     There are views that in view of global supply chain restructuring and the current complex geopolitical landscape, Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” has become increasingly important. Meanwhile, external networking, on-site visits and business matching activities conducted by the industrial, commercial and professional sectors in the community are equally important for these sectors to explore substantive business opportunities in markets such as those along the Belt and Road (B&R) and among the member states of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. However, some sectors have relayed that the existing support schemes could be improved in terms of funding ratios and administrative procedures, and that there is a lack of in-depth co-ordination and business landing support from official organisations when exploring emerging markets such as those along the B&R, in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and in the Middle East. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether the authorities have drawn up specific plans for the coming year for the Government, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Invest Hong Kong and relevant official organisations to lead delegations from the industrial, commercial and professional sectors on overseas visits (including destinations, major target industries, expected scale of industry participation and specific anticipated outcome performance indicators); if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(2) given that initiatives such as the Trade and Industrial Organisation Support Fund and the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme are already in place to provide funding support for non-profit organisations’ external promotion work, whether the Government has assessed the effectiveness of these initiatives in assisting the sectors in entering emerging markets (such as the Middle East, Central Asia or Southeast Asia); of the respective numbers of applications and approved cases involving overseas visits or external promotion under the relevant schemes in the past three years;
 
(3) whether the Government will further optimise existing support schemes (e.g. by raising the funding ratios and streamlining application procedures for cross-regional collaboration projects) or study the introduction of new dedicated funding schemes to strengthen support for chambers of commerce, professional bodies, and industrial and commercial support organisations to conduct more in-depth and sustained external networking activities; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(4) whether the authorities will study strengthening the Economic and Trade Express, a one-stop support platform provided by overseas Economic and Trade Offices and the HKTDC’s overseas offices for non-governmental organisations and enterprises, by also offering consultancy services on legal and regulatory matters, visa facilitation and foreign exchange policies, so as to address the practical obstacles these sectors encounter when establishing their presence in emerging markets; if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The global trade landscape and geopolitics are rapidly changing. The rise of emerging markets, such as the Belt and Road (B&R) countries, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Middle East, etc, has brought new business opportunities to enterprises. The Government is dedicated to leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, thereby deepening international trade and economic co-operation. At the same time, the Government places great importance on connections and co-operation with the industrial and commercial sectors, and encourages the trade to promote Hong Kong’s latest development through different activities such as visits and promotional events, etc, with a view to collaborating with the community to help Hong Kong companies develop emerging markets.
 
     The reply to the four parts of the question is as follows:
 
(1) and (4) Steered by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force) serves as a one-stop platform to proactively attract Mainland enterprises to expand their businesses overseas through Hong Kong, and provides them with customised support services for going global. The GoGlobal Task Force is taking forward a series of work, including organising outbound missions, to be led by officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, to enable Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises to visit overseas markets, including high-potential markets of the B&R countries and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership member states, to allow the enterprises to understand the local market situation.
 
     Among others, the Chief Executive will lead a delegation with over 60 high-level business and trade representatives from the Mainland and Hong Kong to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in early June 2026 to explore new business opportunities in Central Asia for enterprises. In particular, there will be a total of around 30 representatives of Mainland enterprises from more than 10 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, covering sectors including energy, mining, natural resources and chemicals, innovation and technology and pharmaceuticals, high-end manufacturing, automotive industry, as well as investment and trade services, etc. During the visit, the business and trade representatives will conduct activities including exchanges and business visits to explore new co-operation opportunities and take forward collaborative projects. The outbound mission is the first mission led by the Chief Executive since the establishment of the GoGlobal Task Force in October 2025. It is also the largest in scale, with the greatest number of participants and the widest range of enterprises covered, in the current-term Government.
 
     Apart from the GoGlobal related works mentioned above, as a measure announced in the 2025 Policy Address, we have set up the functional platform of Economic and Trade Express to strengthen trio-coordination among overseas Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs), Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), capitalising on their complementary advantages to jointly promote Hong Kong’s trade and investment abroad and to explore new markets for enterprises.
 
     The Economic and Trade Express focuses on supporting local small and medium enterprises and start-ups by proactively organising overseas business missions for them with one-stop supporting services (including arrangement of activities like business matching) to assist Hong Kong enterprises in exploring business opportunities overseas. We have been organising outbound business missions since the first quarter of 2026. These missions include participation in the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the United States, in January 2026, along with events under the Economic and Trade Express, with a view to facilitating exchanges and networking between Hong Kong start-ups and local companies. In March 2026, a business mission to Bangkok, Thailand, was organised where participants took part in the “GreenBiz HK” promotional activities organised by the Economic and Trade Express. In addition to supporting local enterprises to expand their business overseas, InvestHK will identify overseas enterprises to connect with Hong Kong’s business sectors and enable more enterprises to invest and establish operations in Hong Kong, thereby promoting two-way flows of enterprises and investments. When planning overseas missions, we will take into overall consideration local enterprises’ needs and interests, as well as other relevant factors (such as corresponding arrangements in the target markets, appropriate timing for the missions, etc) to ensure the effectiveness of the missions.
 
     The ETOs, InvestHK and the HKTDC will continue to strengthen their collaboration under the functional platform of Economic and Trade Express to promote Hong Kong’s trade and investment abroad in a trio-coordinated manner. Leveraging their respective local networks, they will assist Hong Kong enterprises in identifying business opportunities in overseas markets and gaining understanding of the market landscape.
 
(2) and (3) The Trade and Industrial Organisation Support Fund (TSF) provides financial support to non-profit-distributing organisations, such as trade and industrial organisations, professional bodies and research institutes, etc, to implement projects which aim at enhancing the competitiveness of Hong Kong enterprises in general or in specific sectors, including assisting them in developing emerging markets (including the Middle East, Central Asia and Southeast Asia). A wide range of project activities may be funded under the TSF, including seminars, workshops, conferences, exhibitions, research studies, award schemes, codes of best practices, databases, service centres, support facilities and technology demonstrations, etc. The trade can make use of the TSF to promote Hong Kong brands in other places and organise study missions to assist enterprises in understanding the business opportunities in emerging markets. The maximum amount of funding support for each approved TSF project is 90 per cent of the total approved project expenditure, capped at $5 million.
 
     From 2023 to 2025, the number of TSF applications involving study missions or promotion outside Hong Kong received and approved were 32 (Note 1) and 28 respectively. The total amount of funding approved for the concerned applications was about $57 million (Note 2). According to the surveys conducted by the Secretariat, around 99 per cent of the grantees indicated that the TSF was very helpful in enhancing the competitiveness of Hong Kong enterprises in general or in specific sectors.
 
     On the other hand, the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) aims to support Hong Kong’s professional services sectors to carry out worthwhile non-profit-making projects, with a view to increasing exchanges and co-operation with their counterparts in external markets, promoting relevant publicity activities, as well as enhancing the standards and external competitiveness of Hong Kong’s professional services. In the past three years, a total of 17 applications for outbound visits or external promotion were received under the Main Programme of the PASS, of which seven were approved after vetting with the total grant of over $3.5 million. Surveys conducted by grantees revealed that satisfactory results were achieved in the completed projects.
 
     To encourage Hong Kong’s professional services sectors to step up promotion of Hong Kong’s competitive edge and professional services to overseas (including the B&R countries) and the Mainland markets after the pandemic has stabilised, the Government set up the Professionals Participation Subsidy Programme (PSP) under the PASS in 2020 to subsidise the local major professional bodies to participate in relevant activities organised by the Government and the HKTDC. In the past three years, a total of 26 applications for the PSP activities were received and approved. The destinations included different countries in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe, as well as a number of Mainland cities, with the total subsidy committed exceeding $7.5 million.
 
     In response to the views received from the trade, the Government has implemented a series of enhancement measures in recent years, including improving the operation of the PASS, strengthening the support for applicant bodies, enhancing flexibility in the use of subsidies and expediting the processing of applications.
 
     The Government will continue to communicate closely with the trade, review constantly the operation of various schemes that support the industrial and commercial sectors in market expansion, and make adjustments and enhancements as necessary, with a view to increasing the overall effectiveness of the schemes and providing appropriate support to the trade.
 
Note 1: Applications received may not be processed in the same year. The figure excludes applications that were withdrawn voluntarily by organisations afterwards.
 
Note 2: As an application usually covers several deliverables, the total amount of funding approved for the concerned applications includes but not limited to expenditures on study missions or promotions outside Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, on the regulation of ride-hailing services at a media session today (May 27):
 
Reporter: First, how do you respond to the criticism from ride-hailing platforms that the 10 000 quota cannot meet market demand and is too conservative? Second, will you pledge to review the quota within the first few months upon the scheme’s launch and to issue additional licences if the service supply fails to meet market demand and maybe drives up the fare?
 
Secretary for Transport and Logistics: The proposed four sets of subsidiary legislation contain a lot of details regarding the various requirements under the proposed regulatory regime. Among all the key requirements, one is very important – once we have issued licences for platform operators in the future, we will impose a requirement for the operators to store the relevant operational data and share them with the Transport Department. I believe that our mechanism and review should be based on data and take into account the various operating indicators.
 
     At present, regarding the quota for the issuance of permits for ride-hailing vehicles, there have been a host of diversified views in the community for over a year or so. We have been taking a very careful, prudent and open-minded approach in listening to the various views and analysis provided. As a start, we would like to take a prudent and careful approach to ensure that our proposed regulatory regime will be achieved and implemented in a safe, smooth and progressive manner. Once we have issued licences to platform operators, we will immediately take into account and keep in view the various operating data available to us. I think this is a scientific, data-orientated mechanism and approach so that we can provide a very transparent, open-data analysis and assessment to the Legislative Council and the community, enabling us to take a progressive and forward-looking approach.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A team of eight students representing Hong Kong achieved excellent results in the 26th Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO 2026), winning one gold medal, six bronze medals and one honourable mention.

The APhO aims to promote physics education as well as to nurture and inspire students who are exceptionally talented in physics. The APhO 2026 was held in Korea from May 17 to 25. Over 200 contestants from 27 countries or regions participated in the competition.

     Liu Lincoln (Sha Tin College) won one gold medal in the competition, and attained Best Performance in Theoretical Examination with a perfect score in the theoretical examination. The six bronze medallists were Chen Siguo (St Paul’s Co-educational College), Chin Ho-yee (Sing Yin Secondary School), Lee Ho-yin (St Joseph’s College), Kasper Liu (St Paul’s Co-educational College), Timothy Tian (St Paul’s Co-educational College) and Martin Tsoi (Queen’s College). In addition, Tsang Marcus (Ying Wa College) received an honourable mention.

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, congratulated the Hong Kong team today (May 27) on their outstanding achievements. “The Hong Kong team has achieved remarkable results in the APhO 2026, demonstrating the concerted efforts of various stakeholders in promoting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and gifted education.”

Dr Choi stressed, “The Education Bureau (EDB) places great emphasis on strengthening talent support for the development of science and innovation and technology (I&T). In alignment with the strategic goals of the National 15th Five-Year Plan to promote a high-quality education system and expand our talent pool, we are intensifying our efforts to advance digital education, as well as enhancing the nurturing of students studying science and mathematics at the senior secondary level to build a solid foundation for advanced scientific and I&T learning. Moreover, we have continued to support schools in making effective use of their student talent pool to discover students’ potential and demonstrate their strengths, thereby nurturing I&T talent with a global perspective and an innovative spirit for Hong Kong and our country.”

EDB has consistently been committed to promoting the implementation of gifted education in schools and continues to support the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) in taking forward more and wider student activities for gifted students, including arranging for gifted students to participate in territory-wide, cross-territory, national and international competitions.

Members of the Hong Kong team had earlier distinguished themselves in last year’s Hong Kong Physics Olympiad, and subsequently received training under the enrichment programme arranged by HKAGE. The outstanding students in the programme were then selected as contestants representing Hong Kong to participate in the APhO this year. The Hong Kong team’s participation in the competition was fully funded by the EDB.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Following is a question by the Hon Lothair Lam and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):

Question:

According to the records of the Marine Department, the number of passengers using the two cross-boundary ferry terminals (CBFTs) (namely the China Ferry Terminal and the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal) which were managed by the Government stood at 7.74 million in 2025, representing a decrease of 6.5 per cent from 2024, of which the passenger trips handled by the China Ferry Terminal, which accounted for less than 11 per cent of the total passenger throughput, had plunged by 33 per cent. However, the statistics of the Immigration Department show that the staff establishments of the two CBFTs were still comparable over the past four financial years, indicating that the Government has not adjusted resource allocation in response to changes in the demand for cross-boundary passenger services. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) in respect of each government department, of the respective (i) current staff establishments, and (ii) expenditures incurred for the operation, repair and maintenance of the two CBFTs last year, as well as the expenditure estimates for this year;

(2) given that quite a number of passengers have relayed that pier facilities are ageing, whether it has studied the merging of the two CBFTs, thereby reallocating the government resources thus saved to further enhance the facilities at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal; if it has studied, of the outcome; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as it is learnt that the water depth of the two CBFTs can accommodate vessels with a displacement of several hundred tonnes, and that they are also equipped with immigration clearance and customs facilities, whether the authorities will study converting them into a passenger transfer centre specialising in handling small to medium-sized cruise ships and pleasure vessels?

Reply: 

President,

To seize the development opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been working closely with the Guangdong and Macao governments on the provision of a comprehensive and diversified cross-boundary transportation network, so as to address the demand for cross-boundary travel between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Cross-boundary ferry services, being part of the cross-boundary transportation network, help promote the connectivity at sea between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region. At present, there are two cross-boundary ferry terminals (CBFTs) managed by the Government, namely the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal and the China Ferry Terminal, providing a total of eight routes of cross-boundary ferry services connecting Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Mainland cities.

On another front, the commissioning of key strategic cross-boundary infrastructures such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link in recent years, coupled with the ongoing enhancement of various measures to facilitate the flow of cross-boundary vehicles including Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles and Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles, have further improved the transport connectivity within the GBA and shortened the travel time between Hong Kong and other cities in the GBA. Meanwhile, these cross-boundary infrastructures and measures have diverted the demand for cross-boundary ferry services to other land-based travel modes.

In consultation with relevant bureaux and departments, my reply to the question raised by the Hon Lothair Lam is as follows:

(1) The staffing at the CBFTs is mainly responsible for performing routine duties such as property management, access control of vessels, operation of facilities, immigration clearance, quarantine clearance, security and emergency responses. These tasks are not directly linked to patronages. As such, despite the patronages of cross-boundary ferries have shown decreasing trend in recent years, the relevant staffing cannot be trimmed proportionally.

With regard to departments at boundary control points, the staff establishments of the Immigration Department and the Customs and Excise Department at the two CBFTs in 2026-27 are 325 and 149 respectively, with a reduction of about 6.1 per cent and about 4.5 per cent as compared to 2025-26. The relevant departments has been closely monitoring the passenger flow in various control points and implement different measures, including flexibly allocating manpower, optimising workflows, and making good use of information technology etc, to continuously improve the handling capacity and efficiency of the control points and to ensure their smooth operation. While the Department of Health does not maintain a fixed staff establishment at the two CBFTs, approximately five supervisors are deployed to oversee daily health screening conducted by contractors. The relevant expenditures associated with various control points of the above departments are subsumed under their overall expenditures, and hence specific breakdowns for the two CBFTs are unavailable.

For the Marine Department, the staff establishment at the two CBFTs in 2026-27 is 68, with a reduction of about 2.9 per cent as compared to 2025-26. In 2025-26 and 2026-27, the actual and estimated expenditures for the two CBFTs (inclusive of operation and maintenance expenditures) are about 250 million and 260 million respectively.

(2) Any proposals involving the integration of ferry services or the restructuring of resources of the two CBFTs must be subject to prudent examination, and consideration should be given particularly to the capacity of the CBFT and the associated facilities upon integration of services. The Government has to assess a number of factors, including whether the condition of the existing facilities at any CBFT can assume the function and role of the sole CBFT in the long run; the technical feasibility of the works and any necessary alterations; the impact on passengers, operators and the overall cross-boundary transportation network; as well as the financial viability and cost-effectiveness involved. The Government will continue to closely monitor the long-term operation of the two CBFTs and be open-minded in exploring various options that can promote their sustainable development, including the feasibility of the aforementioned proposal of merging of the two CBFTs.

(3) At present, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui provide a total of four berthing spaces for cruise ships of different sizes, which are sufficient for the parking of inbound cruise ships. Meanwhile, the Government and relevant organisations are currently exploring the provision of additional yacht berthing facilities at various locations. As regards the proposal of converting the CBFTs into passenger transit centres designated for small and medium-sized cruise ships and pleasure vessels, cautious consideration must be given not only to the changes in demand for cross-boundary ferry services, the long-term operation of the two CBFTs, and the technical feasibility of adjusting their usage, but also to the market demand for and investment interest in facilities related to small and medium-sized cruise ships and pleasure vessels. The Government will adopt an open-minded approach and maintain communication with the industry and stakeholders on optimising the use of the CBFTs, enhancing operational efficiency, and improving resource effectiveness, with a view to exploring feasible business models and assessing the cost-effectiveness of relevant proposals. The Government will carefully examine various proposals and take appropriate follow-up actions in the light of actual circumstances.

Thank you, President.